Chapter 14
Ok so I read through the last chapter without my depression-muddled mind, and I sincerely apologize for how shitty that whole thing was. I've edited and reposted it. It may have been okay to some of you, but I just didn't like it and I fixed it because it made me feel better.
Trigger warning: Homophobic slurs
Over the next two weeks at the Manor, Harry continued writing to Hermione, Ron, and Sirius in a futile attempt to get any sort of news from them. The Daily Prophet arrived every morning, but Harry barely glanced at the front page before tossing it away. Draco always read the entire thing through, growing more and more angered with each issue they received.
Draco was finding new and more creative ways to distract Harry every day. They explored the Manor, they walked the grounds, and they spent a lot of time in the bedroom.
This morning, Harry woke up wrapped in Draco's arms. "Good morning."
"Mhm," Harry hummed and tucked his head against Draco's chest. There was a tapping at the door and Draco groaned. He knew it had to be another post owl.
"Ugh, that must be the post. I'll get it," he mumbled. Harry rolled off of Draco's chest to allow him to get out of bed. He opened the door and his mother's owl flew in. He stroked the bird's feathers and untied the letter from its leg, and crawled back in bed with Harry before opening it. Harry curled up against him again as he got comfortable leaning in an upright position against the pillows and slid his finger under the wax seal. He read the letter through and groaned again.
"What is it?" Draco passed him the letter and reached over to the end table to give him his glasses.
"I have to get dressed," he whined. Harry poked his side with a laugh as he accepted his glasses and read the letter.
Dearest Draco,
I'll be returning to the Manor at two o'clock to take you robe shopping due to a change in scheduling. Please make sure you wear the proper attire for the occasion and make sure you make proper arrangements for anything you do not wish to go unattended, we will be in Paris until 8 o'clock London time. Meet me in the blue sitting room on the first floor.
Love, Mother.
Harry snorted. "Even your mum's informal letters are posh," he said as he handed the letter back to Draco.
"Please, Harry. There is no such thing as an informal letter in my mother's book." He sighed and collapsed heavily onto the pillows behind him. "I'm not going to be able to take you with me, and it's not safe to leave you here."
"What do you mean?" Harry lifted his head to look at Draco better.
"She said to make sure I made proper arrangements for anything I do not wish to go unattended. She was referring indirectly to you."
"Oh. What time is it now?" Draco grabbed his wand off of the end table and cast a Tempus.
"Noon. That gives us a little under two hours until I have to leave with mother."
"So you're having an elf apparate us?" Draco sighed and dragged his hands over his face.
"Yes. I have no choice at this point. I can't very well fly us in broad daylight to a Muggle neighborhood." Harry cuddled even closer, resting his head on Draco's chest.
"Well, that gives us more time together anyhow. So how do you want to spend our roughly two hours?" He waggled his eyebrows and Draco burst out laughing.
"You're completely ridiculous, you know that?" Harry pressed a kiss to Draco's ribcage as an answer. "I think I'm going to get a shower. Care to join me?"
"Of course," Harry agreed.
After an excessively long shower, Draco and Harry went to the closet to dress. Harry was distracted by the rivulets of water slowly moving down Draco's back and to the towel hanging low on his waist, leading to a heated snogging session. Draco gently brushed his lips over Harry's newly refreshed Mark; it glowed as if fluorescent silver had been embedded into his skin.
When they were finally ready, there were fifteen minutes before Narcissa was meant to show up. Draco summoned an elf and it apparated them to the park in Little Whinging. Draco pulled Harry into a hug. "Stay safe, Love. I'll be back here to pick you up and take you home at eight." Harry nodded.
"I'll be here. I love you." Draco hugged Harry tighter before pulling away and kissing him chastely.
"I love you too. I'll be back soon." He and the elf apparated back the Manor.
The elf apparated him directly to the place where he was to meet Mother, only seconds before she stepped through the Floo. "Hello, Draco dear." She walked over and embraced him in a hug.
"Hello. How was Paris?"
"Lovely like every year. How has your summer been so far?" Draco blushed.
"Eventful," he responded carefully. Narcissa gave him a knowing look.
"I pray you were careful?"
Draco nodded. "Of course."
"And where is he now?" Draco's smile faltered.
"Safe. He's back in his neighborhood. I dropped him off at the park we frequent." Narcissa scowled.
"Why did you not drop him off at his front door like a proper gentleman? Did I not raise you to be better than that?"
"Mother it's not like that! His aunt and uncle are homophobic and it wouldn't be safe for him if they knew he was gay," Draco quickly clarified.
"I don't understand."
"Some Muggles don't like it when someone loves a member of the same gender. Muggles call it homophobia." Narcissa raised an elegant eyebrow at this but nodded in understanding.
"Well, we must be going. Customs has been tighter as of late."
"By the way, why couldn't I bring Harry with us?"
"You've seen the news lately. We don't want to give them a single scrap of information, a single picture. They'll twist it about." Draco nodded reluctantly.
"I still miss him," he pouted. Narcissa smiled fondly.
"You will. As your bond ages, it will be easier though, it was the same way with your grandmother and grandfather," she said. He offered his elbow for her to take and they walked through the Floo together.
Harry tried to stay in the park. He really did. But after fifteen minutes of sitting on the only unbroken swing (Dudley and his gang must have broken the other when he was away), he got bored. He left the park and wandered around aimlessly for a bit until he found himself at the entrance to the Underground. Might as well buy a paper and have some lunch then. None of the newspapers or magazines showed anything of interest, and after eating a quick sandwich from a vendor, Harry wandered on.
He had no clue how long he walked around lost in his thoughts but eventually, he looked at his watch and saw it was almost seven o'clock. Harry sighed. Draco wouldn't be back for a while but he might as well head back to the park.
He was passing through a neighborhood he vaguely recognized on his way to the park when he realized where he was. Privet Drive. He barely recognized the dead lawns and dusty cars in the driveways. Number four was just a stone's throw away. He could hear the beginning theme song of the seven o'clock news coming through the window and he had an idea. He looked around to make sure no one was watching and crept up to the house. He quietly hid behind the large hydrangea bush under the window, lying on his back. The only way his aunt or uncle would have seen him now is if they stuck their head out the window and look directly down.
The news reporter started off telling of travelers stuck in airports because of some strike that had apparently gone on for two weeks. Harry did his best not to sigh. If there were anything important, it would have been on first, but he continued listening just in case. The newscaster continued on with news about the drought. Oh, that's right. That's why all the grass is dead and the cars aren't washed. Harry remembered. The rest of the news consisted of a helicopter that almost crashed, (it had nothing to do with Voldemort, just a drunk pilot) a celebrity divorce, and a bird that learned how to waterski. If the news was talking about water skiing birds, there truly was no more news.
Harry carefully got on all fours so he could climb out from behind the bush and head to the park. Suddenly, there was a loud noise, almost like that of a gunshot, and Harry jumped to his feet, drawing his wand at the same time. Instead of standing upright, Harry's head collided with the open window. Pain blurred his vision as his head felt as though it were splitting open. Harry could hear his aunt screaming inside the house. Two meaty hands clamped around his neck, cutting off his breathing.
"Put it away!" Uncle Vernon hissed in Harry's ear, and Harry managed to stuff his wand back in his pocket in hopes that the meaty hands would let him go. "What are you doing here boy? You're supposed to be far away from here at that freak friend of your's house." His hands seemed to clamp down tighter and Harry felt a wave of his magic flow through him. His uncle let him go as if he had been shocked. There were a few curious neighbors peeking through their windows.
"Did you hear that car backfire? Gave Petunia and I a scare!" Uncle Vernon called loudly. When the faces slowly retreated he turned back to Harry. "What do you mean by it boy?" he hissed.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Making that noise and being here when you're supposed to be with the other weirdos like you!" he said in a harsh whisper.
"I didn't make that noise and my friend had to drop me off at the park because they had to do something important and I couldn't go."
"Why were you lurking under our window then?" Aunt Petunia had appeared beside Uncle Vernon.
"I was listening to the news."
"Nonsense, your lot aren't on our news!" Uncle Vernon said in a voice that was definitely not a whisper.
Aunt Petunia worriedly looked around. "Not so loud," she whispered.
"That's what you know," Harry said quietly. "I'll leave. My friend should be back to the park to pick me up soon." Harry walked away before Uncle Vernon could grab him again and headed in the direction of the park.
Draco was standing in front of the mirror in Les Robes de Madame Genevieve getting measured for his new school robes when he felt the sharp crack against the top of his head. He nearly fell to the ground and his mother and Madame Genevieve rushed to his side.
"Draco dear, are you alright?" He shook his head.
"He's hurt." Narcissa straightened up, her face stony.
"Madame Geneviève, pouvons-nous terminer ici?" Can we finish up here?
The thin woman with dark hair tied up in a tight bun nodded. "Oui bien sûr." Yes, of course. She finished up measuring and made a note to add slits for his wings in the back of the robes. Narcissa left it to her to take care of choosing the fabric and making them. Just before Narcissa took Draco's arm so they could Apparate to customs and make the Floo-trip back to the Manor, Draco grasped at his throat in pain. Purple bruises had appeared on his delicate skin there.
"We need to hurry," he said quietly.
Harry knew that noise had to be someone Apparating or Disapparating. The only question was, who would be Apparating on Privet Drive? Harry sighed as he walked towards the park, sitting once again in the only unbroken swing. He sat there for a long time, completely zoned out. He hardly noticed it getting dark around him, but he was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard loud, off-key singing. Dudley and his gang were walking next to the park.
Harry almost wished they would notice him. He was angry; angry at Sirius, Ron, and Hermione for not being able to tell him anything, angry at the Prophet for not having any news on what was happening right under their nose, and angry at Dumbledore for making sure he was left in the dark. But he promised Draco he would stay safe. He looked at his watch and saw there was still half an hour until Draco was supposed to be back. He stood and stretched, planning on taking a walk before Draco came to get him.
Draco's mother was right, customs was slow. There had been an anonymous tip that someone was smuggling valuable stolen cauldrons over the border, and now security was trying to find the thief before they succeeded. Everyone had been given a number and been placed in a waiting room so they could check each party individually. Draco's head was still throbbing, and his mother was tense beside him. "Can you feel if he's in danger?"
Draco shook his head. "He's not in pain right now other than his head, and his neck is a bit tender but other than that I can't sense anything. He's not tied up, but he's angry." This didn't seem to calm either of them.
The next group got called forth so their bags could be checked and personal items examined. Draco held back a groan.
Harry turned the corner and saw Dudley and his gang saying goodbye to each other at the entrance of Magnolia Crescent.
"See ya later, Big D," several of them said as they walked away. Harry waited until the gang was gone before walking again. Dudley, unfortunately, walked excruciatingly slowly, and Harry refused to lower his pace to avoid his cousin. When he was almost walking side-by-side with him, he decided to announce his presence so he didn't risk getting hurt.
"Hey Big D." Dudley turned.
"Oh, it's you. Aren't you supposed to be away at some freakshow?"
"Yeah. So when did people start calling you Big D, then?"
"Shut it," Dudley growled. subconsciously, Harry knew he should stop, but he wasn't thinking of the consequences, only of how angry he was.
"Well, it sounds cool, but you'll always be Dinky Diddykins to me."
"I said SHUT IT!" Dudley yelled. His hands formed fists, but Harry was on a roll.
"Can I call you Popkins then? How about Ickle Diddydums?" Dudley was silent and Harry could visibly see him restraining himself. "So who did you beat up tonight, another ten-year-old?"
"He deserved it," Dudley snarled.
"Oh really? What did a ten-year-old do to you?"
"He cheeked me."
"What did he do, tell you that you look like a pig on legs? Because that's not cheek, Dud. That's true." Dudley ground his teeth.
"You think you're so invincible, carrying that thing around, don't you?"
"Oh, you mean this?" Harry pulled out his wand.
"You're not allowed to use that!" Dudley said in a rushed whisper.
"How do you know the rules haven't changed?" Dudley took a shaking breath.
"I bet you aren't so brave without that thing on you all the time. At least I'm not afraid of my own pillow!" Dudley taunted, seeming to get some of his nerve back.
"I don't know what you mean," Harry said sharply.
"'No, he'll kill you! Draco, he'll kill you!'" Dudley mocked.
"Shut up," Harry warned.
"'No! Draco no! Mum help me, please! He killed Draco!'" he continued. "Who's Draco? Is he your boyfriend?"
Harry pointed his wand at Dudley's throat.
"Don't point that thing at me!"
"I said shut up. You aren't worthy of even saying his name," Harry spat.
"GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!" Dudley bellowed.
"WHAT PART OF SHUT UP DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!" Harry shouted.
Suddenly, Harry felt cold. Very cold. He looked around and noticed that it was quiet. The only sound he could hear was Dudley's whimpering and his own heavy breathing. It was dark too; like someone had put a black blanket over the entire street. "Kn-knock it off! Make it stop!"
"I didn't do anything!"
"I can't see! You made me blind!"
"Shut up and don't move, I'm not doing this!" Harry barked. It couldn't be. They couldn't be here. Not in Little Whinging. Suddenly he felt something connect with his face, a fist, and he fell to the ground.
"Goddamnit Dudley! Don't move—DUDLEY GET BACK HERE YOU'RE RUNNING RIGHT AT IT YOU MORON!" Harry picked up his wand off of the ground where he dropped it and stood on shaky legs. There was a separate cold feeling coming from behind him. No, one maybe, but not two, that's impossible. He looked around him, spotting the hooded figure near Dudley, and the one behind him.
Harry lifted his wand and tried to cast the spell, "Expecto patronum." His voice shook as he uttered the spell, his voice weak. There was a faint wisp of a Patronus that quickly faded away. Come on, think of something happy, he told himself. Instantly, Draco's smiling face erupted in his mind. That's it he thought. He thought of Draco, his smile, how it felt when they kissed that morning, how warm his hugs were, how soft his wings felt across his cheek, and he cast the spell again. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The silvery stag flew out of the tip of his wand and slammed into the dementor reaching out for him, then charged after the one reaching out for Dudley.
Harry rushed over to his cousin's side as the streetlamps flickered to life and everything warmed up again. "Dudley! Dudley, are you okay?" He knelt beside his cousin, turning his head quickly to see the figure that was rushing over to them.
It was Mrs. Figg. He went to slip his wand into his pocket when she barked, "Don't put it away, idiot boy! What if they come back? Oh, I am going to kill Mundungus Fletcher!"
Harry looked at her blankly. "What?"
"He left! After I reported you were back in town, Dumbledore sent him to watch your house. Mundungus told me he needed to see someone about some smuggled cauldrons from France, but I told him not to go! Oh, I am going to murder that man!"
"You know Dumbledore? Are you a witch!?"
"Oh, hardly. I'm a Squib. Born to a witch and wizard without magic. As for knowing Dumbledore, the better question is, who doesn't?" Mrs. Figg helped him lift Dudley to his feet. "Come on now, we have to get you inside. Keep that wand out! There's no point in keeping the Statute of Secrecy now is there?" Harry was half carrying Dudley by the time they made it to the front door of Number Four Privet Drive. Harry tucked his wand away as Mrs. Figg left and rang the doorbell. Aunt Petunia opened the door.
"Oh, Diddy, you're home! Diddy, what's the matter?" Harry stepped aside as Dudley threw up over the welcome mat. "VERNON! VERNON!" Uncle Vernon came barging into view. "He's ill! Diddy, you're covered in dirt, were you lying on the ground? Oh, Vernon, he was mugged! Phone the police!" Harry managed to slip into the house undetected as they fretted over Dudley. "Diddy, who did it? You need to tell us who did this!" He was just about to go upstairs when Dudley spoke.
"Him." Harry froze. He knew Dudley was pointing at him.
"BOY! GET OVER HERE!" Harry slowly turned and walked over cautiously. "What have you done to my son?"
"Nothing." Harry knew no one would believe him.
"Diddy, what did he do to you? Did he use," her voice got quieter, "the thing?" Dudley nodded.
"I didn't do anything to him! I swear!" Uncle Vernon grabbed Harry's arm tightly and shook him.
"Don't you lie to me!" he bellowed. Just then, an owl flew through the open window in the living room, dropped the envelope it was carrying at Harry's feet and left. "I WILL NOT HAVE RUDDY OWLS IN MY HOUSE!" He had let go of Harry so he could shut the window, and Harry bent over to pick up the envelope and opened it.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle. The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand. As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your
presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic.
Harry suddenly felt very numb. He barely heard Uncle Vernon's question and was shocked out of his stupor when a meaty hand grabbed his arm and shook him again. "What does it say?" Uncle Vernon growled.
Harry didn't get the chance to respond because just then there was a gentle knock at the door.
"Go to the kitchen and wait there with your aunt," Uncle Vernon growled as he went to open the door. As he opened the door, Draco pushed his way inside.
"Harry, there you are," Draco said with a sigh of relief. He rushed over and pulled Harry into his arms.
"WHO ARE YOU TO BARGE IN THIS HOUSE LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE?!" Uncle Vernon roared.
"Oh do shut up. Harry, do all Muggles yell this much?" Draco pressed a gentle kiss to Harry's temple without a thought, stroking his hair tenderly so as not to hurt his head where he had hit it.
Uncle Vernon grew redder and redder. "I WON'T HAVE ANY POOFS IN MY HOUSE!" Draco ignored him.
"Harry, you're hurt." He leaned in closer and murmured, loud enough for the Dursleys to hear, "My offer still stands on my killing them." Harry tried to fight off a smile.
"No, you're not killing anyone." Uncle Vernon was very red in the face, almost purple.
"WHAT IS ALL THIS?" he bellowed. Draco continued to ignore him and pulled out his wand to tend Harry's wounds.
"Y-you can't use magic outside of school!" Uncle Vernon spluttered, backing away several steps.
"I'm a Malfoy, the rules don't apply to me," Draco said without turning away from healing Harry. When he finished, he turned to look at the Dursleys. "Let's take this to the living room, shall we?"
Now the Dursleys were piled onto the couch and Harry sat with Draco in the armchair Draco enlarged for them both to sit in. Draco had his arm draped over Harry's shoulder and he brushed his thumb over Harry's Mark. Aunt Petunia eyed it with scorn. She hated tattoos, and it looked a lot like one. "So, how did my Harry get hurt? I don't appreciate people strangling him." Draco looked pointedly at Uncle Vernon. Uncle Vernon grew so pale it looked as if someone had dropped a can of white paint over his head.
"Draco, that's not important right now. I've been expelled." Draco turned sharply to Harry.
"Why? What happened?"
"There were Dementors. Two of them. They attacked Dudley and me." Draco's fingers clenched into a fist and he grit his teeth. Harry pulled the letter from the Ministry out of his pocket and handed it to Draco for him to read. Draco read it over swiftly.
"How did this happen? The Dementors work for the Ministry, they're not supposed to leave Azkaban."
"What the hell is a Dementoid?" Uncle Vernon interrupted.
"Dementor," Draco corrected. "They guard Azkaban, the wizard prison," he said in a clipped tone.
"Draco, we really should leave if they're coming to snap my wand." Uncle Vernon opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by an owl flying in through the window in the kitchen. It dropped a letter into Harry's lap and left.
"I SAID THERE WERE TO BE NO MORE OWLS IN THIS HOUSE!" Uncle Vernon shouted. He stood to close the window, but Draco stopped him.
"Leave it open. There are going to be more." He watched Harry open the letter and read over his shoulder.
Harry - Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND. Arthur Weasley.
Draco looked at Harry. "What do you want to do?"
Harry sighed. "I guess we should stay and answer their questions until we get more information," he said, gesturing to the Dursleys. Draco rolled his eyes.
"I suppose."
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON?" Uncle Vernon demanded.
"The Dementor is what happened," Draco said snappishly. He was getting tired of this Muggle very quickly.
"But what do they DO?" he insisted.
Harry pinched Draco's side before he could respond and answered. "They suck all your happiness out, and if they get a chance, they kiss you."
Draco turned to Harry. "The Dementor didn't kiss him, did it?" he asked quietly. Harry shook his head. "Then he's fine. He's just in shock," Draco said, turning to Uncle Vernon.
"Kissed him?"
"It's what they call it when the Dementor sucks your soul out." Aunt Petunia shrieked. "Merlin, Harry! Do they always scream constantly like this?" Draco demanded, pulling out his wand. Petunia shrieked again as he waved it, setting up a silencing charm. "There, now the whole neighborhood won't wake up because of your yelling," Draco said angrily, tucking his wand away.
"And before you ask, yes, your son still has his soul!" Draco said. "Now let's talk about something more important, how did those Dementors come to be in a Muggle neighborhood?"
"I thought maybe that Voldemort sent them," Harry muttered. Draco cringed, but the Dursleys remained still. It's crazy, Harry thought, that words like 'wand', or 'wizard', or 'magic' make them panic, but the name of the darkest wizard to ever live doesn't make them bat an eye.
"Wait, I've heard that name before!" Uncle Vernon suddenly piped up.
"Yeah, he's the man who killed my parents."
"B-but, he's gone. He died."
"He came back last school year." Draco's arm wrapped tighter around Harry.
"And now he's after you?" Uncle Vernon asked. Harry suddenly realized that his uncle was still standing, and rather close at that.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Out. Get out of my house RIGHT THIS SECOND!" Uncle Vernon shouted, taking a step towards Harry. "I WILL NOT HAVE YOU ENDANGERING MY FAMILY AND I WILL NOT HOUSE A FAG UNDER MY ROOF!"
Draco was on his feet in an instant. He unfurled his wings and stood protectively in front of Harry. "If I were you, I would turn around and run right now," he snarled. Harry jumped to his feet and grabbed Draco's wrist. Draco instantly turned to Harry.
"Stop. This isn't helping anything." Draco shrugged with a sigh. "Come on, Harry. You're coming back to the Manor with me. I think there's a table or two we haven't fu—" Draco was cut off by two owls flying into the living room from the kitchen fireplace. Thank you wizard god, Harry thought silently.
One owl flew directly to Aunt Petunia, the scarlet envelope falling to her lap. The other gave its letter to Harry.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should, therefore, consider yourself suspended from school pending further inquiries.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Harry turned to his aunt, who was regarding the letter in her lap as though it were a highly venomous snake. "That's a Howler. If you don't open it, it'll open itself," Harry warned. "Just get it over with." She shook her head.
"No." The envelope started smoking and she threw it off of her lap with a squeal. The letter burst into flames.
"REMEMBER MY LAST, PETUNIA," the letter shouted as the flames consumed it.
"What is this? Petunia?" Vernon was now very quiet, silently begging his wife to explain.
"The boy has to stay, Vernon."
"W-what?"
"He stays."
"B-but, Petunia…"
"If we throw him out, the neighbors will talk. They'll want to know where he's gone," she snapped, seemingly back to her regular self, if not shakier and paler. She turned to Harry. "You're to stay in your room. You're not to leave the house. Now go to bed." Her eyes suddenly fell on Draco, then darted to Harry's neck, and back to Draco.
"You need to leave." Draco rose to his full height.
"I'm not leaving without Harry." Harry pinched Draco's arm, light enough not to hurt, just enough to get his attention.
"Draco, just go. You know what to do." Draco looked into Harry's eyes for a long time and nodded. "Put your wings away, I'm in enough trouble as it is,"
Draco sighed and pulled Harry into a hug. He whispered in Harry's ear, just loud enough for the Dursleys to hear, "If they lay a finger on you, I'll murder them without hesitation and you can't stop me." Harry tucked his face into Draco's shoulder.
"I know. I love you," Harry whispered. He walked Draco to the door.
"I love you too. See you soon," Draco whispered back. He walked outside and smiled at Harry as he slowly shut the door, not wanting to lose sight of Draco's face. Harry walked upstairs quickly and opened his bedroom door. Lo and behold, Draco was sitting on his bed. Harry smiled and shook his head with a snort. He closed the door and Draco cast a locking spell and silencing charm on it. Harry saw that his trunk and broomstick were now in the room again. Draco must have had an elf bring them.
"How did you get in here so fast without anyone seeing you?" Harry asked.
"I'm fast and I can fly. It was easy," Draco bragged. Harry walked over and straddled his lap, tucking his head into Draco's neck. Draco held Harry's hips and rubbed gentle circles on them with his thumbs. "I'm sorry," he mumbled against Harry's shoulder.
"For what?" Harry pressed a feather-light kiss to Draco's neck.
"For revealing that you're gay to them," he mumbled again, tucking his head closer to Harry's shoulder so Harry couldn't see him. Harry pulled him away. He cupped Draco's cheek and looked at him until he made eye contact.
"It doesn't matter. I don't care what they think. I'm the one who should be sorry, it was stupid of me to care before." Draco pressed his lips against Harry's, squeezing his hips softly.
"I love you."
"I guess I tolerate you," Harry sniggered before stifling a yawn with the back of his hand. Draco cast a Tempus. It was already nine o'clock. He started to undress Harry. Harry raised his arms over his head as Draco pulled his shirt off, pressing gentle kisses to his shoulders. Harry stood so Draco could remove the rest of his clothes. He sat on the bed when Draco had finished and he was clad in pajamas. Draco then undressed himself and pulled on some of Harry's pajamas. Draco laid on the bed and pulled Harry into his arms. Harry rested his head on Draco's chest.
"I'm glad you're here," he murmured. Draco pressed a kiss to his hair in response. Harry's breaths steadied as he fell asleep. Draco stayed awake. The adrenaline that was pulsing through his veins was slowly fading. He pet Harry's hair quietly, watching the rise and fall of his back as he breathed. He listened as the house grew silent as the Dursleys went to bed for the night. He heard the loud snores from Dudley's room and cast a silencing charm with the flick of his wrist, followed by a locking charm as an afterthought.
"Draco," Harry murmured in his sleep. Draco smiled lazily and kissed Harry's hair again before allowing himself to fall asleep.
When Harry woke up in the morning, he was cuddled against his pillow instead of Draco's warm body. He lifted his head and looked around. "Draco?" he slurred sleepily
"I'm here, love." He turned in the direction of the voice and spotted the Veela at the small desk in the corner.
"What are you doing?" Draco stood and walked over to him, pushing his hair away from his face and placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Just writing a letter. It's almost done, I'll come back to bed soon." Harry hummed a sleepy agreement and laid his head back down. Draco finished up his letter and gave it to Hedwig. She had flown in sometime in the night from the Manor. She nipped his fingers affectionately and flew out the window. Draco climbed back in bed with Harry.
Harry immediately rolled on top of him. "Who were you writing to?"
"Sirius. I told him that if someone didn't come to take you somewhere safe, I'd take matters into my own hands." Harry sighed.
"Why don't we just go back to the Manor?"
"Because they told you to stay here. I'll play by their rules if they respect mine." Harry rolled his eyes before closing them and cuddling closer.
"You're ridiculous. So what are we doing today? We can't leave so we have to think of something to do here." Draco grinned mischievously.
"I'm sure I can think of something." Harry snorted. Draco suddenly stiffened. "Shh, someone's coming," he whispered. Harry rolled off of Draco's chest so Draco could sit up. He unfurled his wings and stood between Harry and the door. Harry was silent but he wished he could shove Draco in the corner, just in case someone did come in. Footsteps approached the door. A plate with two pieces of burnt toast was shoved through the cat flap and the footsteps retreated.
"I guess the silencing charm wore off," Harry muttered. Draco recast the charm and Vanished the toast. He then summoned an elf.
"Young Master Draco," the elf squeaked with a bow.
"Stubby, would you bring us breakfast?" The elf bowed again and disappeared. It came back a few minutes later with a tray of breakfast. He sat it on the desk and disappeared once more.
Harry sat up and stretched. "I need to get my hands on a newspaper, I need to catch up on what's happening. Who knows what's gone down while we were off at shag-fest," Harry grumbled. Draco sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Harry, do you have any clue how hard it was to make you come with me and stop worrying? I had to use Veela magic half the time to keep you in bed and keep you from stressing!" Harry glared at him.
"I said I didn't like it when you did that," he muttered.
"You may not like it but we share emotions. You might be fine with the stress but I'm not. I wasn't going to suffer like a martyr because you want to run yourself into the ground," Draco snapped. Harry averted his eyes and blushed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't even think about that. I shouldn't have been so selfish."
"See that's the thing! You're not even being selfish, you're worried about everybody except for yourself and you're doing the only thing you can to try and help!" Draco burst out. He threw himself dramatically onto the bed. Harry scooted closer to him and pulled his head into his lap. Draco closed his eyes as Harry stroked his hair.
"Let's just eat," Harry said quietly. Draco picked up his wand from where it lay on the bed. Curse Harry and his improper wand management rubbing off on him. It could have snapped if they rolled onto it in the night. He accioed the breakfast tray over to them. "You have to sit up to eat," Harry reminded him.
"No, I don't," Draco pouted stubbornly. Harry rolled his eyes and picked up a cinnamon roll from the plate. He tore off a piece and fed it to Draco.
"You're a pain in my arse," Harry groused as he continued to feed Draco pieces of the cinnamon roll.
"Yeah, but you love me."
"Merlin only knows why." He petted Draco's hair with the hand that didn't have frosting on it and placed a kiss on his temple.
They finished eating breakfast and showered quickly. Draco snuck into the bathroom with Harry under the Invisibility Cloak, refusing to go to the Manor to shower briefly before coming back. They showered as fast as they could, and Draco snuck back to the room with Harry under the cloak again. Harry fiddled with his radio until he found a news station and set it on the window sill. He sat on the bed and listened closely. There was nothing new, of course. There was talk of the drought, an update saying that the strike at the airport had finally ended, and something about politics Harry paid no mind to. When the broadcast changed to a talk show, he searched through the stations until he found another news station, and repeated the process.
Draco sat at the desk and doodled with Harry's muggle 'pen'. He was too tired to even attempt convincing Harry to do something other than obsessing over the news. When he ran out of room on the silly paper with lines, he spelled the ink away and restarted. He decided to take down the silencing charm on a gut feeling so he could hear if anyone was coming.
Harry's Muggle pen finally ran out of ink and he shook it in confusion. "Harry, this Muggle device is broken." Harry turned to look at him.
"Did you murder my pen?" He climbed off the bed and walked over. He took the pen out of Draco's hand and examined it, then tested it on the paper Draco had been using. "It ran out of ink." He threw the pen in the rubbish bin by the desk. He opened the desk of the drawer and pulled out a pencil. "I don't have any more pens but you can use this." He drew a few scribbles on the paper to show Draco how it worked, then erased them with the eraser.
"What is this magic!?" Draco exclaimed.
"It's a pencil, and it's not magic. Don't press down too hard or the lead will break, just like the nub on a quill, but this one is more delicate. Also, the eraser wears down. Try not to use it too much, I don't have another one." Draco nodded and started messing around with the pencil and eraser. Harry went back to listening to the radio.
A few minutes later, Draco huffed. "This Muggle thingy at the end of the pencil doesn't even Vanish all of the 'pencil' stuff. Spells are better." Harry rolled his eyes. That was better than Draco wearing down his eraser.
Draco had had an elf bring them lunch a few hours later and they ate in comfortable silence on the bed, their thighs pressed together. It was another hour or so before either of them spoke. Draco was perfectly entertained with the pencil, spelling it sharp again whenever it dulled. Harry had fallen asleep on the bed. Footsteps in the hall startled him awake. He jumped off the bed and snatched his cloak off the floor and threw it over Draco, who was still at the desk. "Shhh! Don't move and stay quiet," Harry hissed. He laid down on the bed again, trying to look casual.
The door opened. Harry sat up and looked at the door. Uncle Vernon was standing in the doorway, wearing a suit and tie. "We're going out, boy." His mustache quivered.
"Okay."
"You're to stay in your room."
"Fine."
"You're not to go to the kitchen and steal food, or anywhere else in the house for that matter."
"No problem." Uncle Vernon glared at Harry suspiciously.
"I'll be locking your door. And I don't want that freak poof showing up either. You're lucky I'm even allowing one fag to stay in this house." Harry shrugged.
"Fine." Uncle Vernon was breathing heavily, his face slightly red. He had apparently been expecting a bigger fight. He walked out and slammed the door shut. Harry heard the lock click. Draco pulled off the cloak and glared at Harry.
He threw up a silencing charm. "What was that all about?"
"If he knew you were in here, it would have been more difficult than it needed to be. I know you're here and that's all that matters." Harry collapsed on the bed again, his heart speeding in his chest.
"What do those names mean? He's always calling us 'poof' and 'fag'." Harry turned his head so he could look at Draco.
"They're slurs. Basically insulting names aimed at gay people." Draco scowled. "Hey, I just remembered, are your wings okay? I know you stretched them a lot at the Manor, but you've had them tucked in almost the entire time we've been here." Draco nodded with a hum.
"They're fine." He stood and walked over to sit on the bed next to where Harry was laying. Harry grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to lay down next to him. Harry linked their fingers, their hands laying on the bed between them. Draco watched Harry's face as he stared at the ceiling in thought. He listened as the Dursley's car started up and pull out of the driveway. Harry closed his eyes, letting out a gentle breath. Draco knew he was falling asleep. It was already dark out.
A loud crash downstairs made both of them jump. Draco was on his feet in an instant, grabbing his wand from the desk and standing between Harry and the door. Harry sat up quickly, grabbing his wand from its spot under the pillow, leaping to his feet beside Draco. Draco unfurled his wings and tried to block Harry from view, but Harry shoved the wing aside. There was a clicking sound as the door unlocked and swung open.
Mad-Eye Moody stood in the doorway. "Put that bloody wand away before you poke someone's eye out," he barked gruffly. Draco didn't move. Harry didn't either, remembering how Barty Crouch Jr. had posed as Moody for months and then tried to kill him.
"It's alright, Harry. We've come to take you away," another voice said from behind Moody.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry instantly lowered his wand. Draco was still trying to block Harry from view with his wings, but Harry stroked them soothingly and gently pushed them away. Draco was still standing on guard.
Remus stepped out of Moody's shadow. "Long time no see," he said.
Another voice came from the hallway. "Why are we all standing in the dark?" Someone's wand flared with a Lumos. Harry noticed there were several more people on the stairs. Draco stepped closer to Harry, wrapping an arm around his torso, more to comfort himself than Harry. Harry squeezed his shoulder and Draco lowered his wand. The female holding the wand looked to be the youngest in the group, not including Harry and Draco.
Moody looked at Harry skeptically. "How do we know this is the real Harry?" Draco looked offended.
"I would know if this was my Mate or an imposter!" he protested. He pulled Harry even closer to him.
"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you could be an imposter as well." He turned to Remus. "Ask him something only Harry Potter would know."
Remus thought for a moment. "What form does your Patronus take, Harry?"
"A stag," Harry answered instantly. Remus turned to Draco.
"What was Harry's boggart in the third year?" Remus asked.
"A dementor." Remus nodded.
"It's them. Come on, we have to get going." Harry stuffed his wand into his back pocket.
"Don't put your wand there, boy! What if it ignited!" Moody barked.
Draco smirked. "I've been trying to tell him that for months now. I'm afraid stupid can't be cured." Harry pinched him but grinned at the playful jab.
"You'd know all about stupid, wouldn't you?" he replied. Draco pinched Harry back.
"Alright, let's get a move on, we don't have much time. Nymphadora, you help Harry pack his things. We need to be downstairs in less than ten minutes to discuss the plan, so don't take your sweet time with things," Remus ordered, walking down the stairs.
"Don't call me that! My name is Tonks!" she called down the stairs. The female, Tonks apparently, stuck her tongue out at Remus's retreating back playfully and turned to Harry. "Nice room you've got here, bit more normal looking. Downstairs is unnaturally clean, like no one really lives here." Harry looked around the room sheepishly. There were clothes strewn all over the floor, books lying around, and bits of garbage scattered around the room.
"It's a bit of a mess really," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. At least the room didn't smell of sex. That would have been even more embarrassing. Draco still had his arm wrapped around Harry possessively. He eyed Tonks warily.
"I've seen worse. You should have seen my room when I was younger," she said lightly. Tonks waved her wand and Harry's things started floating into his trunk. Draco watched as his possessions floated into the trunk alongside Harry's. Tonks Vanished most of the garbage strewn over the floor.
Their toiletries flew into the room from the bathroom. Draco's toothbrush smacked him in the head and Harry laughed so hard he was in tears. Draco pushed him with a scowl. The trunk slammed shut and Tonks levitated it behind them. She picked up his broomstick from the corner and placed it on top of the trunk.
"There, that should do it. We should get downstairs before Moody tears my head off," Tonks joked. They walked downstairs and into the kitchen where everyone was convening.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, let's get introductions over with so we can get going. We don't have much time," Moody said gruffly.
Remus stepped forward and introduced everyone. "This is Alastor Moody, but I'm sure you've met him, or at least thought you met him," Remus said, gesturing to Mad-Eye. "Nymphadora Tonks," he gestured to Tonks.
"It's just Tonks!" Tonks protested.
"Who prefers to go only by her surname," Remus continued as though her outburst had never happened. "Kingsley Shacklebolt," he gestured to a tall African-American man who bowed politely, "Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, and Hestia Jones," he said indicating each witch or wizard as he pointed them out. "I'm sure you've all heard of Harry, and this is his Soulmate, Draco." Draco's hand tightened on Harry's waist possessively and his wings flared out a little defensively.
"A Veela!" one of the members of the group breathed in awe. Harry couldn't see who said it, but he felt the urge to hold Draco closer to him possessively like Draco was doing, but resisted the urge.
"Alright, all the pleasantries are out of the way, now let's get to business. Potter, we're your guard." Draco opened his mouth to protest and Harry elbowed him to shut him up, before squeezing his arm in reassurance.
"What's been going on? I haven't heard anything from anyone all summer, what's Volde—"
Harry was cut off by several people in the group hissing and Moody growling, "Shut up!"
Remus calmly said, "We can't discuss anything here, it's dangerous. There are ears everywhere."
"How are we getting to… wherever it is we're going?"
"Brooms. You're too young to Apparate and the Floo Network is being watched. We should probably get out to the garden, the signal should be coming any minute. I've left a letter for your aunt and uncle telling them not to worry—"
"They won't."
"And that you're safe—"
"That'll just depress them."
"And that you'll see them next summer—"
"Do I have to?" Remus smiled sadly.
"Come over here, I need to Disillusion you," Moody beckoned gruffly. Draco's arm tightened on his waist.
"You need to what?"
"Disillusionment Charm. Lupin says you have an Invisibility Cloak, but that'll fly off when we're in the air."
Harry took Draco's hand away from his waist and squeezed it before walking over to Moody. Moody tapped Harry on the head with his wand. Harry felt as though someone had broken an egg on his head. The cold magic trickled down his body.
"Good one," Tonks said, staring at Harry's chest. Harry looked down at his body. He wasn't invisible, his skin had taken the color and texture of the fridge that was behind him. Draco was staring at him oddly.
"I don't get it, I can still see him, nothing's changed."
"Of course you can, you're a Veela and he's your Mate. Now shut up, we have to get going." Moody opened the back door leading to the garden and everyone poured outside. "Right. Now you'll be flying with Tonks, Lupin, and I. Tonks will be in front of you, stay close to her tail. Lupin will be below you and I'll be covering behind. Everyone else will be circling us. No one is to break ranks, under any circumstances. Everyone understand?" Tonks was strapping Harry's trunk to a harness on the back of her broom.
Draco grabbed Harry's wrist. "I'm going to carry you."
"No, you're not. It's too far and you're going to get tired. Don't give me that bullshit that you won't, I don't want to hear it."
"Harry—"
Moody interrupted this time."You're not carrying him. If someone spots you, they'll automatically assume that you'll have Potter. It's not happening." Draco's wings flapped angrily.
"But—"
"No. Draco, please. We don't have time to argue about this," Harry pleaded
"Mount your brooms, that's the first signal," Lupin announced, pointing to a shower of bright red sparks in the sky. Harry swung his leg over his Firebolt, catching Draco's eye. He looked angry, his wings tense as he watched Harry.
"I'm okay," Harry said quietly, smiling at Draco. Draco sighed and his gaze dropped to the ground.
"It's the second signal, let's go!" Remus said loudly. Green sparks had been shot into the air. Harry kicked off the ground, rising steadily. Draco was flying next to him, not meeting his gaze.
As they flew, Harry stayed close to the end of Tonks's broom. Draco flew on his right side, still moodily avoiding eye contact. They flew for hours, occasionally flying higher or taking a detour around large cities to avoid being spotted. Halfway through the flight, Harry felt frozen. His clothing was damp from a cloud they flew through and his teeth were chattering. Draco was shaking too, his arms wrapped around himself. Harry wanted to hold his hand but Draco still wasn't looking at him.
Finally, Tonks went into a dive and everyone landed safely on the ground. Harry stiffly dismounted his broom and Draco landed quietly beside him. He pulled Harry into his arms. Harry relaxed into the hug and he felt Draco cast a wandless warming charm over them. He was glad Draco's pouting session was shortlived, he was freezing. "Where are we?" Harry asked when Remus came into view.
"In a minute," he responded. Moody reached into his jacket and pulled out a silver cigarette lighter, clicking it. All of the lights on the street went out.
"Come this way." Harry and Draco followed Moody a little ways away from where they landed and Moody pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, handing it to Harry. Harry noticed that he was still Disillusioned. "You and Malfoy both need to see it, but don't read it out loud." Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's torso and tucked his chin on Harry's shoulder to read the paper.
The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.
I'm sorry that this took so long and was so short. There has been crap going on at my house and I'm struggling with my classes. I hope you really enjoy this, leave a review! Again, I edited the last chapter. I'm still working on your surprise, it is gonna take a while, it's pretty big XD Please review! Love you guys!